What a joy it was to welcome students back to Country Meadows this week! The 2022-2023 school year is off to a great start and my face surely hurts from smiling so much as I was able to finally meet all of our young Cubs. Mrs. Shaver and I were able to visit each classroom and were able to attend almost every lunch and recess period. It was great to see students getting to know their teachers, connecting with peers, and engaging in learning after a long summer. It sure is good to be back!
Thank you to our families as we work on bus transportation. Today's arrival and dismissal was much smoother. Please anticipate buses running 10-15 minutes late for both arrival and dismissal as routines are learned and transportation adjustments are made. We have a full week of learning ahead of us and it will be nice to begin settling into our routines. I wish you a wonderful and restful weekend.
Take care,
Michelle Garlick
NEW *Curriculum Night*
Curriculum Night is scheduled for Wedneday, August 24th. This is a “parents only” event and I hope you are able to attend. Curriculum Night presentations will be in person. There are different timings for presentations based on grade-level to allow parents to attend more than one session if they have children in different grade levels.
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm - Principal’s Presentation in the CM Gym (1st and 2nd Grade)
6:45 pm - 7:15 pm - Classroom Presentations (1st and 2nd Grade)
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm - Principal’s Presentation in the CM Gym (3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade)
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm - Principal’s Presentation (3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade)
NEW *NWEA MAP Assessment*
All students in grades K-8 will be participating in NWEA MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) assessment on Monday, August 29th and Wednesday, August 31st. The MAP assessment is a normed referenced, computerized adaptive test that helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Like in previous years, all students will be taking the MAP test in reading and math during the school day.
NEW *Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION*
On August 25th, Country Meadows Elementary School will be conducting the annual Law Enforcement Safety Drill EDUCATION. Students will be learning age appropriate safety procedures.
In compliance with the Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill EDUCATION with their school peers.
If you do not wish your child to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill Education with the other peers, please contact Michelle Garlick at [email protected]. The administration will arrange for an alternative review of safety procedures with your child.
If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.
NEW *Erin’s Law*
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Be Seen & Heard ©. For more information about this presentation please go to www.victorpacini.com/peace-of-mind-2
The focus of this developmentally appropriate and interactive program is to teach children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult’s touching him or her is not the child’s fault.
Opt-Out Procedures
The presentation to Country Meadows students will be during the school day on September 30th. If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request or your questions to [email protected].
PTO Blog
Take take a moment to read our wonderful PTO blog!
REPEATING *Changes to Dismissal Plans*
Please contact the school office by noon in the event that your dismissal plans change. You may send a note to school with your child for their classroom teacher, email the front office and classroom teacher, or call the office before noon if your child's dismissal plans have changed. This includes parent pick-up instead of riding the bus.
REPEATING *Student Picture Day*
Country Meadows student picture day is August 25th. All students will have their picture taken for the yearbook! Families can choose to purchase school pictures during the linked form. Picture Day Form 2022
REPEATING *Approved Snacks: What Parents Need to Know*
The District has revised the APPROVED SNACK LIST. The items on the list are free of the top 8 allergens: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. This list includes the foods that are approved for students' daily snacks. Daily snacks for your children must be from this list or they will be sent home.
IMPORTANT: All items for daily snacks, with the exception of fruits and vegetables, MUST be prepackaged to allow staff to easily check that snacks meet the approved requirements.
Director of Educational Services, Bob Hanrahan, also has provided responses to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) about foods approved for daily snacks/special events.
For your convenience, find links to the District 96 Approved Snack List and Approved Snack List FAQs on the homepage of the District 96 website and the homepage of each school.
Lunches packed from home may contain any food items, and do not need to be from the Approved Snack List. If your child is bringing in lunch, snacks must be packed separately from lunch. Please label lunch bags and snacks with your child’s name.